Abu Dhabi: There are just four days more for Emirates ID card deadline, after which residents of Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain will be disallowed to avail nearly all interior ministry services, officials have reminded.
Beginning November 22, it is mandatory for all residents of these four emirates to have an ID card issued by the Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA), to seek all interior ministry services except visa renewal.
The ministry called on all residents to register for the ID card, as required by the law. All security and police authorities as well as police general departments and headquarters have been instructed not to provide these services to nationals or expatriates who do not have the Unified Multi-purpose ID.
Services related to renewal and issuance of residence visas and procedures associated with it will not require the ID card.
Meanwhile, it will be mandatory for other services such as driving license application, vehicle registration, renewal, certificate of good conduct from the police, licensing of private security companies, issuance of arms licenses, certificate from civil defense to certify that safety and security conditions are met at office facilities, etc. Applications to these services will not be processed unless ID card is produced at the concerned departments.
Residents of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah have been temporarily exempted from the rule, the ministry said, in a statement. The decision has been made to avoid overwhelming the ID card registration centres.
The Law of Population Register and Identity Card makes it obligatory for all citizens and residents of the UAE above the age of 15 to obtain the ID card for identification in various transactions.
Every national and resident will have their unique entry in the Population Registration System in addition to a number called the Identity Number which will be included in all transactions, records and files of the holder. It will be used in organising and maintaining such transactions, records and files.
Brigadier Mohammad Saleh Baddah, director of public relations at the ministry said: "All residents who have not yet obtained the ID card are urged to do so without further delay. Those who fail to apply for the ID card will not be able to complete their transactions such as car renewal which could lead to traffic fines."
Yousuf Al Balushi of EIDA said people must not wait till the last moment and cause congestion and stress at the registration centres.
He said that any further delay in the registration process of nationals and expatriates will negatively affect the completion of the project on time. "This will in turn lead to postponement of many vital national projects, which depend mainly on the completion of this project".
Once all nationals and expatriates have ID cards, its scope will be expanded to include data for other services like health and labour cards, driving license and e-wallet.
